I've been writing for a long time, and when it comes to prose, I still feel like I'm trying to imitate writers I admire as opposed to writing in my own voice. At what point did you feel like that stopped being the case for you? And do you have any practical advice towards reaching that point, or is it just a matter of "do it until it works"?
Also, please tell your cat that she's splendid.
Never. All art is theft. The key is to study why a particular author used a particular tone, or technique, or presentation, and consider if that would apply to your own work. People love Terry Pratchett's dry wit, but it wouldn't necessarily be appropriate for a story about a Toni Morrison's Pecola Breedlove. Originality is an illusion created when skill passes through taste.
